We Need to Warn Our Neighbors

Dear Gramps,

My parents are not members and my mom drinks tea and my dad drinks beer all the time although there are times when he tries to “quit” and doesn’t drink for quite a while. I have always had a problem inviting them to church for fear of rejection because they didn’t seem to want to go before so I quit asking. Now I live 1000s of miles away and I don’t know how to spread the gospel to them. I regret not doing a better job when I lived with them. How can I spread the gospel states away?

Niccole

Dear Niccole,

This month markes the 50th anniversary of President McKay’s famous quote, “Every member a missionary”.   Great strides have been made in the effectiveness of the Church’s missionary efforts.  Our missionaries are better trained and capable in teaching the Gospel.  Where improvement can and should be made is  for each of us to be more diligent in following the guidance of the Lord,  ” it becometh every man who has been warned to warn his neighbor”.

Elder Oaks gave the following counsel in his talk in the April 2008 Conference:  “There has never been a greater need for us to profess our faith, privately and publicly… To these sincere seekers, we need to affirm the existence of God the Eternal Father, the divine mission of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the reality of the Restoration. We must be valiant in our testimony of Jesus. Each of us has many opportunities to proclaim our spiritual convictions to friends and neighbors, to fellow workers, and to casual acquaintances. We should use these opportunities to express our love for our Savior, our witness of His divine mission, and our determination to serve Him”.

Bear your testimony to your parents each time you communicate with them, whether it be written or spoken.  Tell them how much you love and care for them and how much you want them to find the same happiness that you have found.  Invite the full time missionaries to visit them.  Always remember them in your prayers.  Let your parents know you are sending the missionaries to teach them the Gospel.  As the missionaries teach and bear their testimonies to them, as well as when you do, it will give the Holy Ghost the opportunity to bear witness to them of the truthfulness of what they are being taught.  When the Holy Ghost bears witness to them and they feel that witness, they will be able to give up their habits and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Gramps